It was extremely sad to read in the local paper of the tragic death of Rachel Davies as a result of an air rifle accident. And to read the heartfelt plea from grieving parents Angela and Ricky Davies at the inquest into their daughters death urging people to stop buying these weapons.

Too often we read in national and local news of either tragic accidents or abuse of these weapons by owners. I firmly believe the time has now come for the Government to take a firmer line with these weapons. Whilst there are regulations already it is worrying that air guns and rifles do seem to be readily available and they seem to fall into the wrong hands too easily.

I myself was “shot” at from a bedroom window while visiting an estate in my council area a while ago and whilst I suffered no injuries the incident was alarming, and even now I wonder what damage would have been done if the pellet had hit me in the eye rather than my jacket.

It would seem to me that the regulations are too casual, we need need firm regulations from beginning to end – from importers to shopkeepers to purchasers. Outlets selling these weapons should be strictly licensed and limited.,And there should be strict penalties for improper use of these weapons. Too often people treat them as toys when they are offensive weapons.

How many more tragedies will we have to put up with, how many more parents have to lose their precious daughter?